IN FULL: NI's top 100 owner managed and family businesses 2017

News Desk

Northern Ireland’s top 100 local and family firms for 2017 have been revealed.

A total of 34 newcomers join the list of family-owned and owner-managed businesses, with this year’s pre-tax profit threshold rising to £1.5m.

Altogether, the Top 100 businesses employ over 51,000 people across NI and foot an annual wages and salaries bill of more than £1.5bn.

The complete list, compiled by Ulster University Business School on behalf of Harbinson Mulholland accountants, was revealed today at a launch event in Belfast.

Top of the league for the second year is W&R Barnett with pre-tax profits of over £36m – going up by nearly £9m on the previous financial year. Norbrook Holdings take second place with £35.5m – up a whopping £14m on the previous year.

Almac goes into third place with pre-tax profits at £27.9m – more than 120% up – while distributors SHS Group and John Henderson take the remaining places in the top five, with pre-tax profits of +£20m.

Darren McDowell, Partner in Harbinson Mulholland said: “The great news is that all the businesses which appeared on the inaugural list in 2016 are still operating and four out of five companies show increases, some very significant, in pre-tax profits.

“Our Top 100 list underlines the fact that family-run and owner-managed firms are the backbone of our economy, accounting for a huge proportion of Northern Ireland’s business sector, employing large numbers of people and contributing hugely to the financial wellbeing of local communities."

John Simpson, Research Principal and Visiting Professor at Ulster University, said that private sector businesses had a vital contribution to make to the development and diversification of the Northern Ireland economy.

“There is a growing body of evidence to demonstrate not only that the private sector has recently been performing more strongly than is sometimes reported but, particularly, that locally owned businesses have contributed strongly to the recent economic recovery,” he said.

The Top 100 list excludes charities, housing associations, property development companies and public sector owned entities.